Roy Jones Jr. Accepts Vitor Belfort’s Boxing Challenge

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort has just signed with ONE Championship.

The 41-year-old joins other former UFC stars such as Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, and Sage Northcutt who recently made the jump. Speaking to media shortly after the announcement, Belfort threw out a rather interesting fight idea.

“”The Phenom” said he’d like to step into the squared circle with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. (via Boxing Scene):

“One fight that I’d really like, I told Chatri [Sityodtong] I’d really like to put on this fight, is me vs. Roy Jones Jr. So Roy, wherever you are, I want to come challenge you for a boxing match — but with this condition. I’m going to be able to dirty box with you.

“I won’t be able to kick you, but I will be able to dirty box with you. I’m going to be in your face the whole time so it’s going to be a different boxing match. So that would be a very fun thing to do.”

Recently, TMZ Sports spoke to Jones and got his reaction to the offer. He accepted Belfort’s challenge to meet him inside the ring:

“This is what I do for a living. Y’all must’ve forgot. That’s who I am. I love a battle. I love a challenge. So, if that’s what you want, that’s what you get. Ain’t like you gotta ask me twice,” Jones said.

Jones said he’d need a six week fight camp to get ready for a fight with Belfort. He added he’d need eight weeks if he wanted to showboat:

“I got nothing but the utmost respect for you. You were a helluva MMA fighter. You one of the best of all time. But, when it comes to boxing, this is what I do. I’m the ruler. I’m the king of this thing.

“Ya understand me? Since Muhammad Ali is not on Earth anymore, I don’t think there’s nothing ever on this Earth as bad as I am with these hands.”